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_Carolina News_ SG bill calls for voting via Internet by Brandon Larrabee ; Staff Writer A bill changing the Student Govern ment elections codes to allow for Inter net voting came before student senate Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Judiciary Com mittee co-chairmen Patrick Gearman and Adam Dawkins, would change the cur rent codes, which are based on a fcaper ballot system. Supporters of online voting say it will make the process easier and quicker, and would perhaps lead to an increase in stu dent voting. “I’ve known students who meant to vote on election day, but just forgot it was that day,” Gearman said. Under the bill, elections, held three weeks before spring break, would run from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. Thursday. Runoff elections, if necessary, would be held a weeK later. The bill also designates the USC com puter labs as official polling places. SG codes penalize candidates who cam paign within a certain distance of polling locations. Any student who wants to cast a write-in vote would have to go to the SG office, submit a blank online ballot and vote on a paper ballot. At the end of the election period, the SG Elections Commission would add up the online and paper-ballot totals to de termine which candidates won the elec tions. “You could do it with one calculator and probably 10 minutes, more or less,” Gearmansaid. He said a recent online straw poll, which drew 1,100 students, showed over whelming support for online elections. The senate will vote on the bill next week. It will also vote on an amend ment to the SG codes allowing the SG ad viser into the closed deliberations of the court of impeachment. In a group of rules recently passed by the senate, the delib erations would be closed to all nonmem bers of the court. The amendment would make the SG adviser a nonvoting mem ber of the court. Gearman said the amendment would make it more likely that USC President John Palms would sign the impeachment rules. Senators brought impeachment charges against SG treasurer Elizabeth Fordham earlier in the semester for violations of SG codes. The court of impeachment found no cause for Fordham’s impeachment and dismissed the chaiges Nov. 9. SG Attor ney General Chris Dorsel issued an opin ion Nov. 15 approving the court’s deci sion. Palms must sign SG bills before they technically go into effect. Absences at Wednesday’s senate meet ing include Adam Dawkins, Jotaka Ead dy, Rebecca Payne, and John Tidikis. | | Fans cheer the Gamecocks Sean Rayford photo editor Freshman Travis Akers shows his disgust for the Clemson Tigers at USC’s final football practice of the year Thursday at Williams-Brice Stadium. About 300 fans attended. 1 And thanks to the following businesses who donated items: Rosewood Market Carm ike Cinemas Intermezzo Harper’s The Body Shop Frankie’s Fun Park Peter’s Salon for Hair and Color Papa Jazz The Firm South Carolina Bookstore Groucho’s Rising High Russell House Bookstore Barefoot Sandal Company McKenzie’s Pub Unistar Systems Body Rites Yesterday’s California Dreamina I_I I ■ I 11_____ I ■ If not here HERE? If n HEN? If ? To the !uacpjina:3tu fpis: Thank you for your support and, weSI »u inlth%;stands Saturday! From the Senior Mem SC Football Team ' _ #3 Ray Green #4 Boo Williams #7 Courtney Leavitt #8 Ben Fleming #9 Kerry Hood #12 Arturo Freeman #15 Steve Flori. #32, Steve Mixol #43' Teddy Salters. #58 Corey Atkins*** #60 Joe Strickland #68 Jim Levandusky #69 Michael Jones im Pietrzak #7?| Kevin Johnson 06 Trevon Matthews #94 Matt Marsters #95 John Abraham #97 Trey Pennington